At least 3000 residents held demonstrations in the Loosuk trading center in Samburu West Sub-County, protesting over insecurity after three herdsmen were killed during a banditry raid.
The enraged villagers, including women, children, and elderly members of society, demanded action from the national government after the heavily armed raiders left at least six other herders with serious injuries during the attack.
Preliminary reports into the incident indicated that the suspected cattle rustlers also made away with an unknown number of livestock, as those injured were fighting for their lives at the Maralal Hospital.
The residents, led by Samburu Women Rep Pauline Lengures and area MCA Kaunda Lenamparasio, blamed the government for failing to contain the banditry menace, claiming no action was taken yet it was common knowledge that the gunmen from Tiaty in East Pokot of Baringo County
Lengures asked President William Ruto to immediately intervene and put an end to the menace, saying more than 100 people had since lost their lives while thousands of cattle were stolen, yet no recovery was ever made by the security officers based at Loosuk Pura and Longewan camps.
She accused the Samburu County security team led by County Commissioner Henry Wafula of offering lip services to the crisis and even misleading the national government that they had recovered the stolen animals and removed the bodies from the scene, yet they were still there even as KNA went to press.
Lengures and Lenamparasio threatened to take legal action against the Minister for Interior, Kithure Kindiki, if no action was taken over the killer bandits and for the removal of the army in Pura and Nolkera, claiming they had failed to stem insecurity in the area.
Leaders said tension was still high in Lolomolk, where the three young boys were killed, while an elder in the area, Nasha Learus, called on the president to visit the area where the people were killed to appreciate their plight.
By Lelendu Petikas
